PFK link : Shrimp deaths related to aquarium plants

[stormhawk]

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u...t.php?sid=4831

You guys and girls might want to have a good read on this link. It basically proves a long-standing claim that aquarium plants are treated with a pesticide before sale, and if not properly cleaned, will kill your fish and shrimp.

Even more surprising is that the plants originated from Singapore.

[Draka]

Oh my god, this is just too amusing. Originate from Singapore...

[newlife]

Another thing to take note for those who feed fresh vegetables occasionally....
***ALWAYS BUY ORGANICS VEGETABLES TO FEED***

Buying Non-ORGANICS vegetable is like putting a 50/50 RISK to your precious shrimps...

As for Aquatic Plants....Quarantine a newly bought Aquatic plants must also be a practice instead of adding it directly. Even a simple rinse with water is not recommended.
Reason is not just because of the above mention pesticide toxic!!!
Un-invited guest Predators like commonly seen or happened are those cute little babies from Dragonflies,Mayflies....etc etc....

Having a habit of quarantine newly bought Plants....or even live stock....is a good practice for hobbyist.

[cheetf]

I don't think it is fair to blame Singapore. The exporters are just complying to the requirements set for them. Even if the plants are organically grown, when they are exported they have to be treated to meet with Phytosanitary certification that requires the plants to be free of pests and disease prior to export to the receiving country.

[Navanod]

Plants from shops get the potassium permanganate bath from me, aka Purple Rain.
Then soaked in Seachem Prime saturated water to neutralize the PP and hopefully remove pesticides. So far so good although I must admit that I try my hardest not to buy plants from shops to minimize pests and other issues.
Those I buy are from bros in this forum or from tanks at the shop that I had eyeballed closely and confirmed that it is free of pest, and that there are live shrimps sharing the tank.

Just a tip from my last encounter with pesticide when I was spraying it in the house. Old seamud powder seemed to be able to treat small quantity of pesticides (as a form of emergency treatment) that gets into the tank from sprays. I dumped half a bottle into the 2ft tank after doing a 10% waterchange and the shrimps recovered. To be safe, I then place activated carbon in the filters.

[stormhawk]

The problem is not so much with Singapore plant suppliers, but with the chemicals used to disinfect these plants prior to export. The report did note that one of companies involved, has farms in China and Malaysia, so whether those farms are regulated or not, we don't know. At least we do know now that this is not some urban myth.

[silane]

Actually most of the plant are from Malaysia and Singapore is just and importor/exportor.

[armourshrimp36]

I got a mayfly today when i change water, suck it out and dump it in the toliet bowl and flushhh it out...

[Shadow]

The report did note that one of companies involved, has farms in China and Malaysia, so whether those farms are regulated or not, we don't know. At least we do know now that this is not some urban myth.

Sound like Oriental which probably the biggest plants supplier around the world. Rumor said they also supply tropica.

[stormhawk]

Must be, since you cannot walk in to the farm to buy stuff. I still prefer Teo's.